Gas prices are falling across the country, including here in North Carolina. But our prices will remain higher than those in neighboring states. According to the American Petroleum Institute (API), there are only six states in the country with higher state taxes on gasoline than North Carolina. (Click the map below to be directed to API’s website and interactive map.)
WFMY News 2 reports that the average price of a gallon of gas in North Carolina is now $2.19, while the national average is $2.08. Last week in South Carolina I saw $1.79. That’s following an increase on January 1 of North Carolina’s gasoline excise tax from 36.5¢ per gallon to $37.5¢ per gallon.
All of this makes it more expensive to produce and transport virtually everything, so it hits all sectors of the economy. It’s time for North Carolina to lower it’s gas tax at least to levels that make us competitive with the states around us.
